How To: Single Crochet Spike Stitch Tutorial

The single crochet spike stitch, often referred to as crochet spike stitch or elongated single crochet, is a super easy decorative stitch.

It’s commonly used to add detail to the body or edging of a project and can be combined with regular single crochet stitches within a row.

What is a Single Crochet Spike Stitch?

The single crochet spike stitch is worked following the same steps as a regular single crochet stitch but instead of working into the current row, the hook is inserted 1 or more rows below the working row. The lower you go, the longer the stitch.

Skill Level for Single Crochet Spike Stitch

This is a beginner friendly stitch! If you can single crochet, you can learn the single crochet spike stitch.

Where to Insert the Hook in Single Crochet Spike Stitch

This will be dependent on your pattern instructions as the single crochet spike stitch can be worked into the row below or a number of rows below.

Single Crochet Spike Stitch Abbreviations

The single crochet spike stitch is often abbreviated as: SPsc or Ssc.

Sometimes you might also see it written as SP-2 or SP-3 which indicates the stitch and which row to work into.

However, abbreviations can vary from pattern to pattern so make sure to check your patterns abbreviations list to avoid any confusion.

Single Crochet Spike Stitch

Materials

• Yarn – you can use 2 colours of any yarn you’d like (I used a worsted weight yarn, 4 Seasons Spot Saver USA)
• 5mm crochet hook (or hook size to match your chosen yarn)

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• SPsc – single crochet spike stitch
• st/s – stitch/es
• (…) – indicates stitch count at end of round
• […] – repeat the instructions in brackets

Tutorial Instructions

Make a Swatch (starting with colour 1)

R1: Ch 21, sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across (20)

R2-13: Ch 1, turn. [Sc] x20 (20) 12 rows – change to colour 2 in last st of R13

R14: Ch 1, turn. [Sc] x7, continue on to spike stitch tutorial.

Spike Stitch Tutorial

Step 1: Insert your hook into the next stitch, 1 row below the current row.

Step 2: Pull up a loop to the same height as your current row.

Step 3: Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook to complete (just like a regular single crochet).

Your first single crochet spike stitch is complete!

Finish your swatch by experimenting with even longer spike stitches to create different patterns.

For my swatch, I dropped down 1, 2, 3 rows below, reversed the order to come back up, 3, 2, 1 and finished with 7 single crochet.

In the example below, I alternated dropping 1, 2, 1 rows below with single crochet stitches in between.

Tips for Single Crochet Spike Stitch

• Crochet stitches have a tendency to lean slightly so where you insert your hook in the row below may be slightly to the left or right. Look to the rows above and below or count the correct number of stitches from the edge before inserting your hook.
• Always draw the yarn up to the same height as the current row to avoid puckering.
• The spike stitch is worked over the top of the single crochet stitch in the previous row. When making your next stitch, work directly into the stitch next to it.

How to Use the Single Crochet Spike Stitch

The single crochet spike stitch really pops when worked in a different colour which can be great for creating visual interest in a project. I’ve used it like this to mimic hair in my Frankie Wall Hanging pattern.

It’s also an effective way to add subtle detail and texture when worked in a single colour as seen in my Crochet Succulent pattern.

It’s a versatile stitch as it can be worked in both rows and rounds so experiment and have fun with it!

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This is an original crochet tutorial written for Stitch by Fay. Please don’t claim this tutorial as your own. If you wish to share this crochet tutorial, you may link to this post but please do not reprint it on your site.